Metallic protector for heels or soles of boots and shoes.



PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

J. VINTON.

METALLIC PROTECTOR FOR HEELS OR SOLES OP BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15.1907.

Inventor: 7% 72% MM/ If 7 '5' witnesses wmaiiwfl AErQ %L UNITED sTArEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. VINTON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

METALLIC PROTECTOR FOR HEELS OR SOLES OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed July 15, 1907. Serial No. 383,872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. VINTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Metallic Protectors for the Heels or Soles of Boots and Shoes, (Case 1),) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved protector for the heels and soles of boots and shoes, the same being formed from a strip of metal which is preferably wedge-shaped in cross section and has a cutting edge, so that the protector may be driven into the heel or sole of a boot or shoe to increase the wearing qualities of said heel or sole and also to prevent slipping.

These protectors may be made straight or they may be slightly curved to adapt themselves to the contour of the heel and in driving them into the heel they are preferably staggered so that the largest possible number may be inserted within a given space.

The object of the invention is to provide a protector of the character set forth which is so constructed that when it is driven into the sole or heel of a boot or shoe certain portions of it will be forced outwardly at an angle from the protector into the leather or rubber of the heel or sole in such a manner as to effectually prevent said protector from becoming detached from the sole or heel into which it is driven. 7

To this end the invention consists in a strip of metal wedge-shaped in cross section having a cutting edge, said strip of metal having one or more cuts in one or more of its edges, whereby the metal adjacent to said cuts is forced beyond the face of said metal strips to form barbs.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved protector enlarged. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, looking toward the right. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking toward the left. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a heel showing my improved protectors driven therein and staggered relatively to each other. Fig.

v6 is an enlarged section taken on line 66 of Iiike numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 5 is the protector having a cutting edge 6. The side faces 7, 8 of the protector intersect with the end faces 9, 10 to form edges 11, 12 and 13, 14, respectively. The protector is provided with cuts 15, 15 extending longitudinally thereof from the cutting edge. The protector is further provided with cuts 16, 16 which extend into the same at an angle, cutting the edges 11, 12, 18 and 141, each cut projecting into two adjacent intersecting faces of said protector and forming barbs 16. The cuts 15, 15 are made with a cutter which forces the metal adjacent thereto in opposite directions and forms barbs 17 and 18, the barbs 17 extending outwardly from the face 7 and the barbs 18 extending outwardly from the face 8.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 6 that when the protector is driven into the heel the barbs will diverge and form hooks to prevent the protector from being detached from said heel and the barbs 16 will project into the leather in such a manner as to prevent the withdrawal of the protector therefrom.

In manufacturing my improved protectors, the cuts may be made from the cutting edge 6 upwardly into the protector or they may be made in the edges 11, 12, 13'and 14, either or both as may be desired.

While I prefer to curve the protector slightly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, it is evident that the same may be made straight without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the manufacture of shoes the barbs upon my improved protector may be thrown up by cutters as the protector is being fed through the machine, and preferably said protector will be constructed by feeding a wedge-shaped strip of metal through the machine which is to form the cuts and throw out the barbs and which is also adapted to drive the protector into the shoe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

1. A metallic protector for the heels or soles of boots and shoes comprising a strip of metal wedge-shaped in cross section and having a cutting edge, said strip having a cut extending transversely thereof from said cutting edge, the metal upon opposite sides of said cut being turned in opposite directions and projecting beyond the opposite faces, respectively, of said strip and forming barbs.

2. A metallic protector for the heels or In testimony whereof I have herennto set soles of boots and shoes comprising a strip of my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Wit- 10 metal Wedge-shaped in cross section and havnesses.

ing a cutting edge, said protector having a cut in one of its edges, whereby a portion of JOHN VINTON' said metal adjacent to said out is forced out Witnesses:

wardly beyond the face of said metal to form CHARLES S. GOODING,

a barb. LOUIS A. JONES. 

